Giving your dog the freedom to enter and exit the home is really convenient. Imagine all the times you have to stop doing whatever it is that you’re doing to let the dog outside. When you’re right in the middle of washing dishes? Talking on the phone? Folding laundry? Doing homework? Those things don’t mean very much to a dog with a full bladder! Instead of turning into a 12-hour doorman, consider installing a doggy door. Doggy doors are tickets to canine independence.

Opening into a securely fenced in yard, doggy doors can be purchased at your local pet supply store. The prices vary since the doors themselves vary in size and color. So you can get a dog door and frame that fits your dog’s height and width and that matches your home décor at the same time.

What’s particularly interesting is that you may not have to accept a hole in the wall. Some doggy doors are installed into either a wall or an existing door. But some dog doors are simple extensions of a sliding door. Made of Plexiglas panels, these doors slide open when a dog gives it an effortless push. The dog door that we’re all pretty familiar with is made with acrylic flaps. With this style, a dog simple walks through it to access the outside. A more complex style electronically opens once the sensor on a dog’s collar activates it.

One of the reasons why people hesitate using dog doors is security. They’re worried about easy access not only from other creatures, but sometimes, unwanted strangers as well (especially when this door is fitted for a very large dog). That’s a concern that can be put to rest however since many dog doors can easily lock from the inside.

At first your dog may seem confused by the door, but after a little training, he’ll quickly adapt to the mysterious mechanism and start using it every time he needs to access the yard. With one of his favorite treats, lure him through the door. You may have to do this a couple of times just so that he’ll get used to the idea of roaming about freely on his own (and walking through what used to be a solid wall or door)!